2014 World Series
Game 5 - Series tied 2-2
First pitch: Sunday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: San Francisco -165, Kansas City +150, Total: 6.5

After tying the World Series up at two games apiece, the Giants look to gain an edge over the Royals on Sunday night in their last home game of the season.

Kansas City has had quite an amazing playoff run thus far, winning 11-of-13 games and did not take a defeat before the World Series. The club could not hold off a big offensive night from the Giants on Saturday night though, as it allowed 16 hits in an 11-4 loss. The Royals offense actually was not too bad as they had 12 hits of their own while going 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position and saw 1B Eric Hosmer get his 10th RBI of the postseason. Overall he has 17 hits in the 13 playoff games with five of them going for extra bases (2 HR) and has scored seven runs. Despite an early three-run deficit, San Francisco never backed down and aided its bullpen's big performance (6.1 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 5 K's) with 16 hits while going 7-for-19 with runners in scoring position. Four of the first five batters in the lineup had multiple hits with 2B Joe Panik getting two doubles, 2 RBI and two runs. Meanwhile, 3B Pablo Sandoval has a hit in eight of his past nine contests while going 14-for-38 (.368) with five doubles, 4 RBI and five runs in that time. A rematch from Game 1 will ensue in the pitching battle as RHP James Shields (1-1, 7.11 ERA) of the Royals goes up against stud LHP Madison Bumgarner (3-1, 1.40 ERA) for the host Giants. Saturday’s loss brought Kansas City’s record on the road to 52-35 (.598) when playing away from home, while the Giants improved their mark by the bay to 50-38 (.568) this season. These teams have played each other seven times over the past three seasons (with all of the games coming this year) and the Royals hold a 5-2 record in that time. On the injury front, K.C. continues to have no significant omissions from its lineup while San Francisco is without 2B Marco Scutaro (back) and OF Angel Pagan (back) for the rest of the season.

James Shields was great once again during the regular season as he posted an ERA under 3.55 for the fourth consecutive year while getting at least 13 victories each time. He also showed amazing control (1.7 BB/9) in 2014 while having his lowest strikeout rate (7.1 K.9) since 2009. Shields has not done well in these playoffs though, allowing at least four runs in three of his four starts while giving up four homers with 16 K's and six walks in 19 frames. Despite his poor performances, his team is 3-1 in his four starts. Overall in his postseason career, Shields is 3-5 with a 5.74 ERA and 1.54 WHIP while giving up eight home runs in his 53.1 innings. Against San Francisco, he threw a four-hit shutout (5 K's, 1 BB) during the regular season, but was roughed up for five runs on seven hits in just three innings during Game 1 of this World Series. OF Gregor Blanco (4-for-7, 3 RBI) has done well in his limited time against the righty, while OF Hunter Pence is hitless with three strikeouts in his 11 at-bats in the matchup. The bullpen for Kansas City was touched up for eight runs on 10 hits Saturday, but is still an excellent 35-19 (.648) with a 3.26 ERA while successfully saving 60-of-72 (83%) games. Closer Greg Holland (0.90 ERA, 7 saves) has pitched in 10-of-13 Royals playoff games while striking out 13 and allowing a mere four hits in 10 innings of work.

Madison Bumgarner has jumped into the upper echelon of starting pitchers after a regular season in which he had a career-high 18 wins while recording under a 3.00 ERA (2.98) for the second consecutive year. He also posted career highs with 9.1 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9 as he pitched over 200 innings (217.1) for the fourth straight season. He has been a one-man wrecking crew over these playoffs as well, tossing at least seven innings in each of his five starts while allowing just six runs in 38.2 frames. In that time, he has a tremendous 33:6 K/BB ratio, as his team is 4-1 when he toes the rubber. Overall in his playoff career, Bumgarner is 6-3 with a 2.54 ERA (0.97 WHIP) and has not given up more than two walks in any of his 12 postseason games (11 starts). This includes a phenomenal 0.41 ERA and 0.59 WHIP in three World Series starts. He dominated the Royals in the first game of this series, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out five over seven innings. The lefty also tossed a quality start against them in his one regular season outing on Aug. 8 (8 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 K's). While going 4-for-10 against the tall lefty, 2B Omar Infante is in rare company with success against Bumgarner while OF Norichika Aoki, OF Lorenzo Cain and C Salvador Perez have combined to go hitless (0-for-20) in the matchup. The Giants relievers have been outstanding all year, collectively going 38-15 (.717) with a 2.90 ERA while converting 51-of-70 (73%) save opportunities. Closer Santiago Casilla (0.00 ERA, 4 saves) is a perfect 4-for-4 in his postseason save chances while allowing a mere two hits over 7.1 innings.